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Recovery

Mom would tell me that “if” was the biggest word in the world!
What if…
The word itself, only two letters yet brings with it gigantic proportions of:

Regret… “what if I hadn’t done…” or “… had done…” “Can I get a do over?”

Possibilities… “What if I go for it and it works or happens or does the trick?!”

Options… There is a choice to make and some decisions to think through. If I do this… or If I do that…

The choices we make will have certain affects on our life and future for sure.

These stir the imagination and our faith, right?

With Easter here I cannot help but think, “What if…”

What would the world be like if Jesus didn’t come?
What would people do to become right with a Holy God?

What if Jesus did come but didn’t die on the cross, maybe just spoke really good stuff, do some good deeds then lived to be an old guy and just died…

What if there was no cross for Jesus to bear or the resurrection?
Hmmm, that cross?

The Resurrection?!

But then again, What IF He really did come and live an amazingly perfect life, spoke brilliance from Heaven, healed the blind and the sick, set people free from demons, ate with sinners and forgave sins. What IF this marvelous man died a criminals death though He was without sin!
What if after he was buried in a tomb, He actually did rise from the dead!

What if…
Jesus made a way for sinners to be made right before a Holy God by accepting the just punishment for our sins!

He began this work… He started it all and i am so thankful yet I forget it’s Him who will see me through to the end. I was in a CR meeting the other day and heard a young man say this was a life verse for him: James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And “let” steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Life is hard and the trials of life I would not volunteer for yet they happen right? They have made me stronger and I have seen God through them and yet if I’d have know what I needed to go through to get to where I am today I would have said “no thanks” When I heard this young man reference this verse I was struck by that word “Let” as if I might be in the way, somehow stifling and holding back maturity. Somehow this “Steadfastness” or “patience” (depending on the translation you read) was going to have a life of it’s own, to have it’s full affect. Let me get this straight, no pun intended, if I am “patiently steadfast” (my interpretation) then I will become mature, complete, lacking NOTHING?

The original langue of this passage is greek and the word for patient is “hypomonē” and does actually speaks of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. (BLB) Hold it…I think I get it!

If I am faithful, patient and persevere in my walk of faith then I can see and will experience this promise!

One step in front of the other…

One day at a time.

I need to LET this happen,

I’m reminded of the other “Let” exhortation Col 3:16a “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.”

I’ve heard it said that if a man knew he had to do anything for the rest of his life it might crush him, but one day at a time he can do anything.

Harbor Rock Recovery; Resources for a life of freedom.
The longest journey begins with the first step.
That first step is probably the hardest yet sets us up for freedom.
That first step opens the door to a life that is truly LIFE!
The first step: Surrender